Todd Helton enjoying life in Rockies’ new digs

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — For Todd Helton, happiness is Tucson in the rear-view mirror.

Nothing personal. Helton kind of liked Hi Corbett Field. It’s his tricky back that didn’t like the place. Or more specifically, the bus rides from Tucson to Phoenix.

Helton is living large in Scottsdale, and so is his bat. He had two hits today, giving him four in a row. He’s hitting .418 (7-for-17) this spring with three doubles.

Helton, more than any other Rockies player, has benefited from the team’s move to metro Phoenix after 18 years of training in Tucson. He’s launching a career comeback, a challenge that would have been more difficult if it were based out of Hi Corbett.

“Absolutely,’’ said Helton, when asked if being in Scottsdale were a factor in his fast start. “You get more at-bats in a big-league situation, not in the minor leagues where it’s kind of hard to get your adrenalin going.’’

Helton took few if any bus trips to Phoenix in the Rockies’ latter years in Tucson, a concession to his back problems. This year, he already has played two road games, and Friday marked the second time he had played back-to-back games.

“I’m excited to be out there,’’ said Helton. “It feels good to move around and feel good doing it. I hope I don’t hit a wall or anything like that, but right now everything feels good.”

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.